CMS shines light on Transparency Final Rule: Insights and impact

February 2013

At a glance

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the Transparency Program rule that requires medical device manufacturers to collect, aggregate, and report payments or transfers of value to physicians and teaching hospitals.

Designed to create and promote greater transparency across health care markets, the Transparency Program requires applicable manufacturers to collect, aggregate, and report payments or transfers of value to physicians and teaching hospitals was well as for physician ownership or investment interests in manufacturers and group purchasing organizations. To gauge the significance of the impact of the Final Rule, one only need to consider the position of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that it has the right to audit the reportable data and documentation.